Can't wait for Christmas fever to be over it's too exhausting

Mutual Pining Masterlist

Andreil

a chance to start again by eikoexe (M | Incomplete | 10/?)

Andrew Minyard was a consulting detective - probably one of the best. He lived a life alone and only kept well to his demands, solving more crimes than nobody could think possible. Wymack usually said he was stuck up on the job, Renee had been suggesting he finds himself someone to live with, just so he wouldn’t live a life full of solitude. Andrew said he didn’t need it, didn’t want it, that he was perfectly fine the way he was. But what if one day he met a boy who stubbornly tripped into his life? Who had been wanted by his father for running away? Who needed a place to stay… and who needed a home?

And so Andrew’s life changed when he met Neil Josten.

–

Or alternatively, a Sherlock AU where instead of Johnlock solving crimes, we get our Andreil boys.

Something, Nothing & Everything by TheBashfulPoet (E | 139,900 | 28/28)

Neil Josten is yet another name in a long list of identities used to hide a boy long since dead from a past blood had been spilled to forget. Essentially, he is and always will be nothing. And yet there has always been one thing that made Neil Josten real: music. After his mother’s death, music and singing were the only things tying him the threads of reality by the strap of a well-worn guitar. Too bad he’s pretty sure that it’s also going to be the thing to kill him. Especially when Kevin Day, international rock star and blast of Neil’s past comes waltzing back into his life demanding he joins the upstart and infamous band EXY as its new vocalist. To make matters worse, Kevin’s unofficial shadow, Andrew Minyard with a rap sheet taller than he is has taken an interest in the lie that Neil Josten and has made it his mission to uncover the bloodied truth that lies beneath.

By all accounts, Neil should just pick up his guitar and disappear like he’s done so many times before, but the chance to be real and seen is almost enough for him to plant his feet for the first time in 11 years he’s been running. Going into the spotlight means certain death, but Neil’s just not so sure that leaving it would mean anything different.

stars may collide by broship_addict, llheji (M | 20,664 | 2/2)

Moonlighting as Abram, member of the city's crime-fighting Foxes, Neil is doing a very bad job at staying under the radar. He's busy enough between his friends, patrol, and bickering with Andrew at work, but with the Ravens gang finally within reach and the reappearance of the Monster, he might have bitten more than he can chew.

(Or, how both Neil and Andrew accidentally fall in love with the same person twice. Lame.)

You Made a Monster Out of Me by basicallymonsters (M | Incomplete | 3/?)

He realizes that everyone feels exactly the same way he does, filthy and buzzed and understood and angry. His eyes find Andrew again, sober but animated like the drums are a live wire and he’s electric.

He thinks, if he could be part of this, if he could stand in the middle of the stage in a garden full of monsters, and sing the audience’s veins open, he would never need another drink, or another moment on court.

Prompt: Andreil in a rock band setting – tattoos, harsh lighting, calloused fingers, Andrew’s sweaty arms, Neil’s striking blue eyes, someone’s excellent voice, an uncomfortable undercurrent of drug abuse.

don’t take that sinner from me by wesninskids (M | Incomplete | 2/?)

In Bono, Alabama, a southern town where nobody ever goes, Neil Josten is a blind boy who used to read and write stories. Now he tells them aloud for his friend to write down, but things are quick to turn bland where there’s no color to see. He finds comfort in religion, thinking God can give him his eyes.

Then Andrew Minyard arrives in town in a dusty Impala and a crumpled suit, claiming he’s there to help Renee Walker take care of the church after the local priest’s death. Everyone soon starts wondering what his motives are and why he’d exile himself to a dead-end like theirs, mistrusting every word—but they’re after the wrong threat. Disillusioned and disappointed by religion, this lonely man of God came for a greater mission than preaching and blessing. He’s after something, and he might have just found it.

The blind boy of the town will either be his salvation or damnation, and he’s not sure which one yet.

/Graphic Depictions of Violence /Underage

doe & josten: deductionists by spanglebangle (M | Incomplete | 25/?)

Andrew Doe, rude but brilliant consulting detective, thought he had no need of a partner as he worked slowly away at dismantling the largest crime family in the country, helping out with other cases on the side to relieve the tedium. That was, until a scruffy runaway with a stupid amount of secrets stumbled into his life. Or, more accurately, broke into his kitchen.

/Rape/Non-Con / Graphic Depictions of Violence

roses are orange, and some also blue by apprenticedmagician (T | 1,295 | 1/1)

Dear Valentine, They aren’t poisonous. I checked. From - your pipe dream

wanting what you think you cannot have by orphan_account (T | Incomplete | 1/?)

this was a fic written for the aftgexchange on tumblr, but i decided to continue it as a multi-chapter fic on ao3! this is a fake dating au with no seth, riko/the moryamas, and drake so it’s the softest thing you’ll ever read

neil is a runaway, andrew works at a bakery, and nicky is really, really nosy. being someone’s fake boyfriend is a lot harder than it looks, especially when you’re hardcore crushing on them

double scoop by broship_addict (T | 3,733 | 1/1)

Neil serves ice cream and Andrew might be addicted. There’s a lot of blushing.

Series: Part 1 of share a pint, share a kiss

only fools by kazbrekker_morelike_kazwrecker (E | 19,833 | 20/20)

A flower shop/coffee shop AU that no one asked for but appeared in my brain and had to get out. Neil never played Exy and never met the Foxes at PSU, but his story with his father remains the same. Neil doesn’t like people much but neither does Andrew and everyone knows coffee brings people together

the foxtrot’s not for the faint of heart by kazbrekker_morelike_kazwrecker, smolmoll04 (M | Incomplete | 3/?)

The Foxes are a dance group working their way up from being mostly underground and found their new studio and Wymack as their producer. The Moriyamas are a powerful human trafficking syndicate and instead of Exy, they deal in dance competitions. Neil’s father wanted to sell him to the syndicate but his mother was like NOT MY DAUGHTER YOU BITCH and ran with him.

Neil has found the Foxes and a familiar face… He also gets to meet a certain sarcastic five foot tall blond and things ensue…

trust fall by emeryuu (E | 9,948 | 1/1)

Neil is a florist who loves his job but isn’t going to refuse a second job if he can make good money from it. Even if the said job is bartending at a club. Even if that club is a BDSM club.

Andrew is a tattoo artist working at the studio next to neil’s flower shop. He’s a regular at Eden’s Twilight where he always can find a sub willing to do a scene with him.

One night they meet at the club and that’s a beginning of a new journey for both of them. What starts as simple deal to let Neil explore parts of life he hadn’t chance to explore, slowly becomes something much bigger.

Series: Part 1 of games

hazel and gold by obsessedwithfictionalboys (T | Incomplete | 4/?)

AU in which Andrew doesn’t hate everything and Neil does not know how to deal with this beautiful nerd.

Allison/Renee (renison)

we all need sweets every now and then by downintheflames (M | Incomplete | 1/?)

A storm rumbled towards the team as they ran laps on the lacrosse field. Wymack had proclaimed they needed to breathe real air to get all their bullshit out of their system. Allison had complained about the humidity ruining her hair before she stopped to watch the clouds trip over themselves in the sky. Renee liked to think that in another life, Allison would have been a storm chaser. She was staring at the sky in awe while Renee stared at her. Andrew cleared his throat loudly. Neil nudged him softly then silently assured her that she should continue on - that the vulnerability was a good thing. Nicky rambled on to no one in particular about how one time when he was in Germany with Eric… Kevin slid his phone out of his pocket and took a picture of the clouds so he could look up exactly what kind they were when they returned to the dorms. Aaron grumbled about how stupid running laps outdoors was. Dan barked at them to get a move on - that they wouldn’t stop unless there was lightning. Matt immediately picked up his pace with Allison following behind him. Renee shook herself out of her thoughts. Allison was her best friend and nothing more. Andrew needed to stop acting like her saying that was such a joke.

too late. by icebreeze (T | 1,555 | 1/1)

Life never goes to plan. Love is no exception to this.

you, just you by zucheenee (M | 17,651 | 1/1)

Allison grabbed another slice of pizza, leaning back in her chair. Renee worried, not for the first time, that she’d fall and give herself a concussion. Allison sighed and flicked a lock of long blonde hair behind her shoulder, suddenly looking up and meeting Renee’s eyes. “Boys are just so stupid, right?” She said, smiling prettily at Renee. Allison always smiled prettily, and Renee wanted to die.

“Right.”

In which Allison can’t seem to find the right man, and Renee wishes Allison would get a clue.

lonely ♡s club by modernpatroclus (T | 1,719 | 1/1)

“Next time you need an outlet, come to me. I’ll take you shopping, not beat the shit out of you.”

“Andrew doesn’t usually beat me. I was distracted this morning.”

Renee realizes she’s tired of being set up with gay boys. Allison realizes that she’s ready to move on from Seth when she sees Renee after her latest sparring session with Andrew.

Jean/Jeremy (Jerejean)

playing on by flybbfly (M | 142,179 | 31/31)

"Who knew California Golden Boy Jeremy Knox could play dirty?”

Jeremy grins. “Best kept secret on the west coast. Told you there was a western division striker who could dispossess you.”

“On a practice court, maybe," Jean says. "Try to get it away from me during a game.”

Jeremy leans back, bracing himself on gloved hands. “Luckily, I won't ever have to.”

In which Jean Moreau and Jeremy Knox play exy, share a dorm room, and accidentally insult each another a lot.

between hoping and believing by cryptidkidprem (T | 47,332 | 7/7)

Jean convinced himself a long time ago that he doesn't have a soulmate. Or maybe he just wants to believe that. Things would be easier if he was destined to be alone. It will at least hurt less when he inevitably winds up that way anyway.

And then there's Jeremy, who's been dreaming of meeting his match for years. For some reason, Jeremy seems determined to convince Jean that sometimes he might actually be able to have the things he hopes for, and that soulmate or no, Jean Moreau has people who will stick with him.

Two Bros Five Feet Apart by Leahelisabeth (fortheloveofcamelot) (M | 27,220 | 9/9)

Jeremy sniffed as he looked at his computer screen and the email he had just opened up. Every colourful picture and excited blurb just another stab to his tattered heart. And there at the bottom, the biggest blow of all, “non-refundable.”

He sighed and slammed his laptop shut, not caring that his rough treatment could damage it. Right now, he wanted to damage something. A significant portion of his savings had gone into these tickets and now he had nothing to show for it, no girlfriend, no awesome vacation, and absolutely zero chill.

Jeremy's girlfriend dumps him on the eve of a romantic vacation. Jean fills in.

dreams of being golden by poetatertot (M | Incomplete | 6/8)

The ocean is a healer. This Jeremy knows better than anyone. It’s why he came back himself, when all turned to nothing; it’s why he took the others under his roof when the shadows at their back threatened to swallow them whole. It’s why he lets Jean in when he shows up suddenly, his pale face a soft light in the darkness. Jeremy sees him and knows he can’t subsist as he is, alone.

The ocean can’t change Jean’s past, but maybe it can wash his future into smooth, clean sand the way it did for so many others.

Stupid (for you) by justdk (T | 1,647 | 1/1)

He’s not the only who cares for Jean, the entire team has his back, wants to see him get better. But Jeremy’s the only one who is completely, helplessly in love with Jean Moreau and it hurts.

Face to the Sun by Leahelisabeth (fortheloveofcamelot) (G | 1,272 | 1/1)

Jeremy and Jean have been pining for each other for too long. The Trojans plan an intervention.

Series: Part 3 of All for the Game Tumblr Prompts

Shield for a Heart by neilskey (spellitwithyourpeas) (M | 54,949 | 16/16)

“It’s your choice, but you’re rotting away in here, Jean and no matter what she says, you can’t live in Abby’s spare bedroom forever. Time to start fighting again.”

Kevin’s hard and commanding tone was no surprise. The softness had been beaten out of him around the same time as Jean.

“What if I don’t want to anymore?”

Maybe it was because he had been half hidden in shadows-Jean had kept the shades drawn, but light still seeped in the cracks- but Jean thought he had seen something akin to understanding paint Kevin’s cool expression. “He’s gone. You survived. Play or don’t, it’s up to you, but you need to get out of this fucking house.” // Jean's first year at USC. Jeremy falls hard, Jean comes around eventually.

/Graphic Depictions of Violence

eyes wide open by jaylocked (T | 13,496 | 2/2)

Jean blinked. Blinked again. Was sure he didn’t recognize the man on his doorstep, with his bright eyes and enormous grin and wavy blonde hair. Waited for him to explain himself with a simple raised eyebrow.

“Hi!” the man finally chirped. The sound was happiness channeled into a single word, and Jean wasn’t sure how he didn’t hate him already.

(based on the prompt from tumblr: "hi sorry I live below you and I hear your dog running around and barking all the time and– no no it's fine I was just wondering if I could pet it?" au)

Kevin/Jeremy

lit me up by thisisallmarvelsfault (M | Incomplete | 2/3)

When Jeremy goes to South Carolina to pick up Jean, he and Kevin go to the court with a bottle of vodka and Kevin brings up Nicky’s “list.”

[Or, the life and times of Kevin and Jeremy.]

Neil/Riko

burn, baby, burn by wesninskids (M | Incomplete | 3/?)

Nathaniel Wesninski is Riko’s precious #2, his best backliner, weapon of choice, and only mercenary—the first piece of his Perfect Court: in exchange of everything, thirteen year old Nathaniel gets his number tattooed on his cheekbone and becomes Riko’s partner for better or for worse. Soon Kevin Day and Jean Moreau join the envied line of Ravens and become partners in their turn, and the four of them chase after glory and find the missing pieces of their Perfect Court one player after the other, drunk on power and victory, caring for one another no matter what.

But then Nathaniel strikes a deal with Lola Malcolm to protect himself, and it’s all downhill from here.

/Graphic Depictions of Violence

CYBERATTACK MASTERPOST

💣 Overview 💣

In 1999, the Y2K scare was in full swing. Everyone was terrified that with the new millennium, everything with an internal clock would malfunction and the ensuing panic would cause society to collapse. 

That happened, but it was much worse than what everyone imagined...

Computers failed once it hit midnight on January 1st, 2000. This included things like nuclear weapon monitoring systems, which launched bombs that didn’t leave a single country untouched. In Japan, only about less than half the population was able to make it into shelters. 

In early 2001, despite the remainder of the Japanese government having a somewhat steady hold on everything, a lot of gangs were already banding together. They killed the Prime Minister and completely took over the country. Lots of death and violence and chaos ensued. Once everything settled, the eight most powerful gangs rose to occupy each of the either regions, and everyone began to rebuild. 

The current year is 2055, and Japan is in danger of being completely taken over by a tyrannical gang from Tokyo...

🏮 Gangs 🏮

Rotten Revolution is the gang in charge of Kansai. They’re based in Osaka, operating out of an arcade called High-Tech Junkyard. Soon after they took over Kansai, Denko Sekiguchi (one of only two members at the time) made enemies with the biggest gang on Honshu when she bombarded their servers with DDoS attacks. That gang, The Heartbreakers, was left with dead servers and suffered heavy losses; mainly gang members, money, and other resources. Meanwhile, Rotten Revolution is thriving. They are generally liked by the inhabitants of Kansai, and they are actively trying to make life better for those who live in the wastelands outside Osaka.

The Heartbreakers are in charge of the Kanto region, based in Tokyo. They operate out of a dark industrial warehouse that was used by a corporation to store power tools before the bombs dropped. The region is nearly a military state, especially under the new leadership of Ren Honegumi. The youngest gang leader in Tokyo’s history, Ren murdered the previous gang’s leader before taking the crown for himself. Now they have a vice grip on Kanto, easily crushing any smaller gangs under their boots. They hope to expand their harsh control to the rest of the country.

👹 Characters 👹

From left to right in the image above! Click their name to go to their masterpost. As of December 2018, the masterposts are a WIP. Only a couple are finished!

👑Oniku Umehara🍖 

Oniku is the leader of Rotten Revolution. She’s pretty mysterious, and she often makes decisions based on what will result in something interesting, violent, or just fun. She hates getting her hands dirty, so she gets Denko to do all the fucked up things instead. She seems to have a backup plan for everything, and she never seems angry or upset. She has a collection of gold-plated guns.

🍑Denko Sekiguchi⚡

Denko is a mechanic for Rotten Revolution, and she’s also pretty good with computers. She builds her own cybernetics and sells them. They’re cool; she can remotely override control and make them do freaky shit. Also, her parents died five years ago because their cyberbrain servers crashed and she’s pretty damn sure it wasn’t an accident.

💾Dokuro Satou💀

Dokuro collapsed on the doorstep of Rotten Revolution’s arcade one day, and Oniku convinced her to join. She works as a hacker and programmer for the gang. I haven’t developed her enough, but she’s shifty and anxious to the point some people think she’s hiding something.

🍣Hamachi Onoda🔪

Hamachi is a scout for Rotten Revolution. Her family has owned the same sushi shop for generations, even through the near-apocalypse, and she is violently passionate about traditional Japanese cooking. Her cooking knives double as murder knives.

🐇Aika Goshima🍰

Aika is not technically part of Rotten Revolution, and she’s not interested in joining, but she provides enough weapons for them and she’s so loyal that they treat her as part of the gang anyway. She even lives with them above the arcade! She mostly deals in heavy weapons, but she’s not strong enough to wield most of them and that makes her sad. She wants to use a minigun.

💔Ren Honegumi💫

Ren is the leader of the Heartbreakers and he is not nice. He’s the most dangerous fuckboy you’ll ever meet. Seriously. His gang is called the Heartbreakers because he didn’t get very far romantically when he was younger, or ever. He’s intimidating, arrogant, and absolutely merciless. He does have a soft spot for shoujo anime, and his favorite one is Urusei Yatsura. Lum is his girlfriend.

🍮Shuichi Kurosawa👾

Shuichi is a member of the Heartbreakers, and his job consists of running around, finding information, and reporting everything to Ren. He’s a soft boy but he needs more character development.

💉Hitsugi Gozou💊

Hitsugi is the Heartbreakers’ medic. She’s really bad at remembering to use anesthetic, even when treating fellow gang members. She also needs more character development.

��️Kaiko Matsunaga🐛

Kaiko is similar to Aika in that she’s not really a member of the Heartbreakers, but she helps them enough that she counts anyway. She’s an info broker and hacker. As far as everyone goes, she’s the newest character so she definitely needs development too.

🗾 Regions 🗾

Hokkaido is the northernmost region (and also island!), and its capital city is Sapporo. Notable for its cold weather, it is the fourth most populous region. Their gang activity isn’t exactly cut off from Honshu (the main island), but they have separated themselves from most of the conflict. 

Tohoku is a relatively remote region. It is the seventh most populous region, making it second to last, and its capital city is Sendai. The southern half of the region has been claimed by the Heartbreakers.  

Kanto is Heartbreakers territory, and the most populous region. The capital city is Tokyo, which is notable for how quickly it rebuilt after the bombs. Despite the city’s advanced development, the surrounding wastelands receive no help from the Heartbreakers. The southern border (Kanto-Chubu) is heavily guarded, while the northern border (Kanto-Tohoku) is more lax.

Chubu is not a fun region to be in, as it is right in the middle of the conflict between Kanto and Kansai. Its capital city is Nagoya, and it is the third most populous region. Like Tohoku, a portion of it has been claimed by the Heartbreakers, who are fighting to get even more of the region.

Kansai is home to Rotten Revolution. It is the second most populous region, and the capital city is Osaka. The wastelands surrounding Osaka are in much better shape than the Kanto wastelands, but the city is still a preferable place to live. They are less concerned with taking territory than they are with keeping the Heartbreakers from conquering Japan.

Chugoku is the region at the tail end of the main island, Honshu. It is the sixth most populous region, and its capital city is Hiroshima. Rotten Revolution is considering reaching out to their gang to make an alliance. 

Shikoku is like Hokkaido in that it is both a region and an island. It is the least populous, and its capital is Matsuyama. Despite the lack of any connecting land, they are still involved with most of the conflict on Honshu.

Kyushu is the southwestern most region/island, and its capital city is Fukuoka. It is the fifth most populous region, and the most removed from the conflict on Honshu.

⛩️ Miscellaneous ⛩️

There are only eight leading gangs, but there are hundreds of smaller gangs spread throughout the wastelands. Occasionally small gangs will crop up in the capital cities, but depending on the region the leading gang will assume they are trying to take over. 

Every leading gang has a unique uniform. The color scheme is primarily dark; blacks, navy blues, and greens are common. There is also a civilian uniform for those living in the capital cities, but it is not required to wear except in schools. The civilian uniform is the same as the leading gang’s uniform, except the shirt or jacket is white. 

Bicycles and motorcycles are the most efficient ways to get around. Other than that, you’ll have to walk. It sucks to travel, especially outside of your region. Traveling to and from cities is a big deal and not commonly done. There are no cars or trains.

The wastelands are generally not a fun place to be. In the cities, housing and other resources are generally nice and there is access to the region’s gang-run network, like tokyoNET and osakaNET. In the wastelands, there is no network access, and people are left to their own devices.

The currency is called ZENI, stylized in all caps because it looks cool. It is completely electronic, and can be accessed via any device that connects to the network. No one carries yen anymore, at least not to pay for things, because it isn’t actively being made. Outside the cities, where there isn’t a network or anything, people just trade. 

Traditional Japanese cultural practices, like Noh and Kabuki theater, shrines and Shinto religion, and tea ceremonies, are uncommon in the big cities. However, the further into the wastelands you go, the more of this you'll find. It’s not out of the ordinary to have a small gang operating out of an old temple. 

Media like books and movies stopped being professionally produced at the beginning of 2000 when the bombs dropped. However, mostly everything that existed before that still exists in Cyberattack, and there are small but prominent doujin circles who create their own media, whether it’s to provide an ending to an unfinished manga or produce an original film. 

🍵 FAQ 🍵

Questions will go here as I get them!

SEASON 7 EPISODE 6 BEYOND THE WALL

Heartbreaker. I could just say that and end it.  But on we must go and it was an event full episode and through it all, it continues to be about relationships. Also, look back at the opening of the episode, we have the war room at Dragonstone and we see the Vale of Arryn. That is where it all started. Had John Arryn not died, King Robert does not ride North, Ned never comes South to be the Hand of the King, and all that happened that led us to the War of the Five Kings never happened. One small event leads to so many others.

NORTH OF THE WALL

North of the Wall, the Magnificent Seven are trying to capture and bring back a Wight, which is member of the army of the dead. Does it really make sense that they could do it -seven against an army?

Tormund asks Jon, how many people died for Mance’s pride Tormund asks Jon? Pride may be the epicenter of this episode and we have heard that line before. I think the beauty of the episode was how the Seven were changed pairings. Each pair had a unique connection in the past which they had to get through; they had to understand what brought them there and how their pasts intersected. Gendry and the Brotherhood. Gendry wanted to join the Brotherhood, but the Brotherhood needed money to fight so it sold him. Jon and Jorah, as Jon admired Jorah’s father; Jorah not willing to take Long Claw as he let his father down. So he gives it back to Jon and says “May it serve you well and your children well.” Hopefully, that will be true. They also share a bond that both their fathers, so honorable, died in betrayal. We also had Jon and Beric-sharing the bond of both being back from the dead. Jon and Gendry talking about fathers, even though unbeknown to either one, Gendry’s father killed Jon’s real father.  The Hound and Tormund discussing Brienne and how the Hound’s face got burned. They dislike each other, but this talk bonds them and later that bond leads them to save each other’s lives. Jorah’s father, who is hated by Tormund but revered by Jon. And throughout it all, you had to love the Hound’s sense of humor. The point being that each character describes how their lives led them to this place and time. Great dialog throughout. You need to watch it again to get the true depth of these interactions. And almost lost is Beric’s comment to Jon-you don’t look like your father. And we know why. And remember, Ned sent Beric to hunt down the Mountain, the Mountain killed him and that is when Thoros brought him back to life for the first time. And while Beric says he is serving the Lord of Light, Jon asks why he (Jon) would serve a Lord that has never spoken to him? In the end, religion takes a side step as they fight for the living who cannot protect themselves, which leads Jon to repeat part of the oath of the Knight’s Watch “I am the shield that guards the realm of men.”  So many interconnections.

The snow gets blinding and out from it springs what I guess we would call a Wight Polar Bear. Why a bear? Tormund had said he would do anything to keep warm, anything will do and in what I think was Season Two, he boasted to Ygritte about having sex with a bear.  As I pointed out before, in the books, they mention huge animals and giants as being part of the Army of the Dead. And there were always rumors of an Ice Dragon. Takes a while, but they finally manage to kill the bear. Not sure why Jon’s Valyrian steel sword didn’t kill it right away. And what about the fire swords? Didn’t they bring dragon glass? And despite the ferociousness of the bear, only Thoros is hurt.

Later, they come upon the mountain the Hound saw in the fire. A White Walker leads a battalion of the Dead Army, but they go down when Jon disintegrates a White Walker with Long Claw. So we know that if you cut down the head, the rest will fall. So if the breathing can kill the Knight King, presumably his army is gone for good. And in the process, they capture a soldier of the Army of the Dead. Looking good so far.

WINTERFELL

At Winterfell, Arya is telling touching story of her childhood, shooting arrows, knowing it was wrong but when her father clapped, she knew the rules were wrong. She goes on to say that the Lannisters killed their father with Sansa’s help. I don’t know about you, but I am getting a little tired of Arya’s attitude. She won’t listen to Sansa or try to understand what Sansa went through. She acts as if she was the only one who suffered. But don’t we all agree that Sansa suffered so much more? Arya with her veiled threat to expose Sansa’s writing is playing into Littlefinger’s plan. Isn’t Arya supposed to know when people are lying? If so, why doesn’t she understand that Sansa is telling the truth about the letter? And Littlefinger is magnificently manipulating the split between Sansa and Arya.  Baelish tricks Sansa into believing that as long as Brienne is in Winterfell, she cannot deal with Arya. Sansa does send Brienne to King’s Landing to be her emissary, which really made little sense. But Sansa is afraid of Arya and showed it when she searched her room. Arya comes clean on what she went through and who she is.  Given all their family values, does anyone really believe Sansa would kill Arya or vice versa? And where is Bran? He knows how evil Littlefinger is. In the end, I cannot see the Stark sisters not uniting against the true common enemy.  One more thing. What faces were in Arya’s bag? That will most likely come into play next season. DRAGONSTONE

Tyrion and Daenerys. Danny is obviously worried about Jon as she tells the Imp she like him because he is not a hero as heros do stupid things and die. Tyrian wants to look to the future. To change the Wheel. But isn’t Her Grace right when she questions what war was won without deceit and mass murder. And the Imp was right that ruling by fear is brittle. He advises her not to do anything impulsive, which she denies she has. But we all know she is impulsive and that is a weakness on her part.  Through it all, does she TRUST Tyrion as much as she says? Deep down I would say yes. Question: how has the Imp gone from somebody so clever and smart to being outdone at every turn this season?

I know that it is out of sequence, but did Daenerys act compulsively when she decided to help Jon North of the Wall with her dragons? Tyrion advises against it, as he talks about her vulnerability and that she cannot be replaced as there is no plan for succession. Danny isn’t worried about that right now, as she cannot abandon those who are loyal to her. Was it out of her emotions for Jon and was she right? Tyrion is really worried about who will follow her, and because Her Grace believes she can no longer have children, she angrily avoids it. But what proof do we have that she cannot have another child? The word of a witch? How many believe, as I do, that she will bare an heir.

THE BATTLE BEYOND THE WALL

The whole season, this is what we have been waiting for. The battle between the Night King and Jon Snow. With the horde of the Army of the Dead coming at them, the Knight King and his Four Horsemen look down at the battle. Their expressions never change as they appear to have only two feelings for humans, disgust and hate. The Magnificent Seven are clearly over whelmed and are trapped on some sort of rocky ledge. But the ice breaks and as we know, from Hardome, the Army of the Dead hates water. Not sure why. So the ice cracks and they “die.” But our gang is stranded, so Gendry runs like the wind and barely makes it back to the Wall with the message to send a raven to get help from Daenerys.

Jorah is right when he says they will all freeze or the ice will, meaning certain death. Jon thinks that the only hope is Danny, but Beric is right, there is another. Kill the Night King as it all started with him. I will get to some interesting theories later. The Hound tortures a Wight by throwing a rock at it, but the second one comes up short and the ice doesn’t crack. Oh shit as the Wight realizes it and starts to advance. Do the Wights realize this on their own or does the Knight King see it? The soldiers have shown no independent way of thinking, so if they can, that makes it even worse. But I sense it all has to do with the Night King. The scene was a little Walking Dead, Battle of the Bastards and Hardome rolled into one. What I liked is how each man had each other’s back. All survive except for Thoros, who has run out of lives. When all seemed lost for Jon and his men, Daenerys and her dragons came to the rescue burning tons of the walking dead and the fire burned and melted the ice. Just like the Knights of the Vale. The visual effects and music rated an A+. Stunning and beautiful to watch. Drogon lands and Danny sticks her hand down to help Jon up, but he won’t abandon his men and turns to fight. Honor to the end. The tide was turning and then we all went from hope to utter devastation and heart break. The Night King, with an arm stronger than Dan Marino, throws a spear which hits Viserion and brings him down. I am sure like me, you were in a state of shock as the mighty dragon went down steaming blood and smoke and screaming in agony. Some have asked me what the spear was made of, and I don’t know. Possibly dragon glass or just pure ice rock. But is was so sad to see him go down in pain as he slipped beneath the water. Jon knows the danger that the Night King possesses and yells for Her Grace to go before he can kill another dragon. So they are forced to leave Jon behind and ride back to the Wall. Jon fights but eventually slips into the water and appears to drown. Later, we see him rise. Has he risen from the dead again? He pulls himself out of the water with Long Claw, and that has to be significant. Jon is doomed again, until Uncle Benjen saves the day. And while nobody knows what the Lord of Light has planned, he brought back Jon, Beric and Benjen for a purpose. So it would appear that Benjen’s purpose was to save both Bran and Jon. But now his watch is done, or so it appears because remember, what is dead can never die.

And on a lone horseback, Jon makes it back to the Wall as an anxious Dragon Queen looks on. We have seen that before as well.

But of course something ominous happened. The Army of the Dead, with chains, rose Viserion from the water, the Night King touched him and his eyes turned blue. He is now part of the Night King’s army. So scary and still, felt so sad for the dragon.

Back at the Wall, Jon is brought in to recuperate. Later we see him with Daenerys and she sees the scar on his chest and knows the sacrifices he is willing to make. Jon’s first words were how sorry he was, that he wishes he could take it back and never gone. But as grief struck Her Grace, she knew it was right and that she had to see for her own eyes, the real danger and enemy. Crying, she says the dragons are her children and the only children she will ever have. She asks him if he understands. Did she ask that to tell him that if they get married, they will produce no heirs?? Why tell Jon that unless she wants him to have children and have his children continue to rule. Remember, Iron Claw sort of saved him and brings in what Jorah told him. Daenerys vows that together they will kill the Nights King and in her mind, you can see it as vengeance for her lost child. Jon calls her Danny, as her brother (Jon's father) used to and says he will bend the knee. When she eventually slips her hand out of his, is it sadness as she believes she cannot bare his children? I say yes.

RECAP

I know I left a lot out, but I wanted to keep it shorter. Some thoughts:

In the books, there were references to ice dragons so while it was a dreadful turn of events, I guess book readers could have guessed it. This alters the theory that Tyrion would ride a dragon. Now it looks as if the Night King will ride Viserion, with Daenerys riding Drogon and Jon riding Rhaelgal, which is named after his father.

So the bad guys have an air force. And the Night King is smart.  How will that effect things to come? Will Viserion breath blue fire and could that harm the Wall? In the books, dragons fight each other. Hopefully, our two will win. There is also talk that Bran could warg into Viserion, but I doubt it. As he gets stronger, maybe he will break the spell that the Nigh King has over Viserion and that will turn the tide. Another interesting thought is that the Night King was a Stark and that Bran is him. Crazy right?

And what of our star crossed lovers, Jon and Danny? Will they produce an heir? We all hope so.

Will Sansa and Arya figure out who their real enemy is? They have to.

And finally, next week in King’s Landing. Can’t wait for those fireworks.

Until next week, a heart broken Lord of Pinecrest over the death of Viserion.

They Dont Care About Us!

At what point, do we take matters into our own hands?? How much longer can we pretend these killings aren’t intentional!? We’ve waited patiently, followed the rules, Trusted in a system, that has always been stacked against us. Listened to people in charge constantly telling men and women of color that we are over reacting. But we cant do it anymore!! 

Before Covid happened, there was always the argument that black people and white people fighting for the same rights get treated equally. When we have always known that its never been true. You see, many people would use the argument that well there is more to the story...when ever it comes to the killing of a black man or woman. People of color always getting described as “Thugs, Criminals, Gang Members, Sketchy, and Suspects, Monsters”. Even when they are the victims of murder. Before properly getting the story of what happened to a black victim out, they do background research and try to find the most damning thing about said victim, and they proceed to talk about them in regards to past transgressions in their lives but not about what they were currently doing! If the black victim has ever like most humans, made a mistake and have any form of past criminal history regardless of what. They will refer to the victim as a “former thug” or “former prisoner” “addict” or even better “Suspect” of a supposed recent crime in the area of which the person doesn't fit the description of. 

When white people are victims or even the aggressor in certain situations, they look up the most innocent looking photo, and talk about all the good they accomplished and achieved, they discuss any positive changes they’ve made since their past. And then worry about the well being of the white person. Their colorful past is not made apparent in news immediately. They are deemed innocent until proven guilty, or even when they are guilty allotted lesser penalties than those of their back peers. And even when the obvious is so clear to us, people still insisted that wasn’t the case.

We can only sit back and watch the literal systematic attempt to remove black people and reap the rewards of modern day slavery via Privatized Prisons and illegal and unfair mass incarcerations for so long. They continue to find ways to stiffen us as a people. But no matter what we always prevail. Because we are resilient. We are natural born survivors by your creation. 

According to a Research Study conducted by researchers in California:  The findings, the authors concluded, supported an “epigenetic explanation.” The idea is that trauma can leave a chemical mark on a person’s genes, which then is passed down to subsequent generations. The mark doesn’t directly damage the gene; there’s no mutation. Instead it alters the mechanism by which the gene is converted into functioning proteins, or expressed. The alteration isn’t genetic. It’s epigenetic.

What does all that mean??

Well as more and more genetic research is conducted, we have better understanding of how the human genetic coding works. What traits and such cause and do what? In attempt to find ways to cure other big world issues. Its been found that, any trauma a group or generation of people have experienced goes beyond just topical physical and mental changes. It has been discovered that prolonged exposure to trauma, and terrible living conditions can genetically alter the victims genetic make up which in then passes onto the next generation. 

Black people since the beginning of our time, have always been treated unfairly, less than human, and never given full human rights even til this day. They were made to forget their culture, their names, their religions, and family traditions, their HISTORY! Black people were not allowed to learn, to write, to read, not entitled to proper healthcare, living conditions, food, or, livable wages, equal justice or FREEDOM! So as a People, black people were forced to adapt to less than normal and human conditions to survive. It was the only was to move forward. And it makes the White Man mad! To see that no matter how many roadblocks they put down, we will always find a way. You can’t stop greatness! 

Our DNA is literally coded to survive the worst of the worst. And because of that, we are a Race of People that scares the living light out of white fragile men, and its why they try to scare us, and brake us, and make us feel like we have no choice! Because their biggest fear is one day all of the Black people rising up and taking back a country that by all intent and purposes belongs to Us. We built this Nation. This entire country was built on the blood, sweat and tears of millions and millions of Black men and women, ripped from their homes and everything they knew, stripped from their lives and enslaved, raped, tortured, bred like cattle, and used for entertainment. 

Even hundreds of years later, in a supposed more tolerable world, we are still witness to the very same systems used back then but with a new modern flair to control the Black people. They kill us for sport. They use black men and women pictures for target practice. Still get away with cold blooded murder. Still no true justice. Still being sent with a mere slap on the wrist, if any at all. Its a sad day in history when we as black people have to worry about the most basic of human rights. Like walking in the park, shopping, driving, walking down the street, sitting in your own home have all become reasons why a black person has been killed. Because being born into a color of skin that people hate for no reason isn’t hard enough, because being born into a system that made it such a disadvantage to be a person of color, because working three times as hard to get noticed at work isn’t hard enough, because having biased being made based on my color when i want to buy something nice isn’t hard enough, but now you are telling me waking up and hoping that Today isn’t your day to die by the hands of those sworn to protect us. 

We were strong before you, we come from Kings and Queens. We come from the original people, with wealth, health and education. But you then tried to brake us and only made us Stronger. We are Faster, Bigger, Stronger, Smarter, More Versatile, and Best of all We Adapt to our surroundings. We are Fearless warriors. Our DNA was forced to teach its new generation to have a heightened sense of self and awareness, an innate need to strive for better, for more by any means necessary. We are Hustlers. You gave us the will to keep pushing forward because you've already put us through the worse. Our ancestors sacrificed and dealt with so much so we can make their deaths not be in vain. 

Now is the time we have to do something. Enough is Enough. You don’t have to care about us. We will care about us. We will do whats right, we will fight for justice and we will continue to raise Strong men and women. Who will always know the truth, we wont hide your lies anymore. We wont pretend its not happening. That moment for quiet and patience is over. The moment a cop and his fellow cop mates can openly murder an innocent black man that was not restricting arrest and pleading for his life on camera without as much as a flinch or worry. Is the moment we have to stop playing nice. 

Back in the day, cops even the dirty ones, would do their dirt privately, or go out of their way to not be recorded or audio to be heard. It wasn’t right, but they tried to hide it. Today, we have cops and people who in broad day light in front of many watching will openly murder and take the life of a person of color and not feel any source of remorse, show any concern for human life. We need to call it what it was, it was Intentional murder. He was never trying to arrest that man, his goal from the beginning was to take that mans life. The cop enjoyed it and didn’t let up, and his friends watched and supported this blatant act of careless and unnecessary murder. If they are no longer hiding their true intentions and the world is now seeing whats happening finally. Then if the peaceful way didn’t work...its about time We Do Something About IT!

Cubans Want More Severe Laws for Criminals

Cubans Want More Severe Laws for Criminals / Iván García Iván García, 6 May 2017 — Some people in Cuba, not just a minority, want blood. And more severe laws for criminals. While the Catholic Church and different international institutions are advocating a crusade to eliminate the death penalty on the Island, there are people who, for many reasons, think firing squads should be reactivated. If you ask Gisela about the subject, her eyes fill hopelessly with tears. At one time this woman, who is pushing 50, was a brilliant nurse. She formed a model family together with her spouse, an ex-official of a foreign business. They lived in a well-cared-for apartment in Reparto Sevillano, in the south of Havana. But the night of December 14, 2010, their marriage took a dramatic turn. "They killed our only son. He was only 15. He was with some friends in El Vedado. A gang assaulted him to take his clothes. Before running away, they stabbed him twice in a lung. After his death, our life changed and got worse. I always wonder, if God exists, where he was that night," says Gisela. After the loss of their son, the marriage dissolved. She became a habitual alcoholic. They sold their car and later exchanged their apartment for a smaller one. The money was spent on rum and psychotropics. Gisela divorced the father of her deceased son, and they put him in a psychiatric hospital. When you ask her opinion about the death penalty or more severe laws for certain crimes, she answers without subtlety: "Whoever kills a person ought to be executed. Look at my case. The criminal who killed my son got 20 years in prison, and for good conduct he served only six and is now back on the street. It's not fair." Those who have lost a family member or friends of violent crime victims are more susceptible and hope for the return of executioners and a State that decrees death. In Cuba, the crime rate is notably low. Although official statistics are unknown, the Island is a safe place. But gangs of juvenile delinquents and home robberies have increased. Since 2005, the Cuban Government has had a moratorium on the death penalty. The last convict executed was called "Crazy Victor" in the world of the marginal underground, and he was a sinewy mestizo almost 6'6″ tall, with an assassin's soul. At the end of the '90s, he killed an old woman inside her house in the neighborhood of La Vibora. The day of his arrest he had a shoot-out with police in the style of an American action film. In the spring of 2004, the Council of State ratified the death penalty for Victor, which was carried out in the adjacent courtyard at the Combinado del Este, a maximum security prison on the outskirts of the capital. Fidel and Raúl Castro have not held back from pulling the trigger. From the very beginning of January 1, 1959, they used the death penalty to eliminate their recalcitrant enemies and even peaceful dissidents. A lawyer, now retired, relates: "When an objective academic study is done, without political passion, the exact number of Cubans that the government of Fidel Castro has executed will be known. On principle, they eliminated criminals from Batista's police and army. Several of these trials were real Roman circuses, televised to the whole country, without the proper judicial guarantees. They took advantage of the situation to deliver justice in order to liquidate the enemies of the revolution. "In one step, the laws sanctioned the death penalty for betrayal of the country by soldiers, as in the case of General Arnaldo Ochoa. Or the execution of 19 people in an air base in Holguín in 1963, most of them war pilots. Fidel, Raúl and Che signed quite a few death penalties. The figures vary, according to the sources. Some say that 500 were executed; others, 3,000 or more. "Dissident jurists consider these to be crimes of the State, because they were established offenses that didn't necessarily call for capital punishment. But the Government claimed it was being persecuted by Yankee imperialism." In 2003, after a summary trial, three young black men, residents of Centro Havana, were executed for trying to hijack a boat to leave the country, which they weren't able to achieve. "It was a counterproductive political error. It was an an act of Fidel Castro's meant to set an example that cost him the condemnation of world public opinion," said the ex-lawyer. In the spring of that same year, among the 75 peaceful dissidents punished with long years in prison by Fidel Castro, who used only words as a weapon, the Prosecutor of the Republic requested seven death penalties. "It was something appalling. Luckily the Government didn't carry it out. It would have been a crime in all meanings of the word," said the old lawyer. As in any revolutionary movement, whether in France, Russia or Cuba, violence begins with force. The death penalty always was a weapon of combat for intimidating the enemy. However, several people consulted considered that while political adversaries were sanctioned excessively or executed in a pit in the fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña, Cuban justice was too permissive with some blood crimes. "Right now someone who kills a cow gets more years in prison that someone who kills a human being. I know cases where they got only four or five years in prison in spite of having killed someone. Those who slaughter beef cattle are condemned to 20 or more years of privation of liberty," says an ex-prisoner. There are quite a few ordinary Cubans who think that crimes like robbery in occupied homes, sexual violations and other mean-spirited acts should be considered by the State as crimes, and the killers should be executed. "Although my religion is against the death penalty, I'm in favor of executing those who commit horrendous crimes," confesses Mayda, who defines herself as a practicing evangelical. Saúl, who works for himself. considers that in addition to "executing serial killers or psychopaths, they ought to punish other infractions with more years. As in the United States, where they give them life imprisonment for these same crimes. The thugs would think twice before breaking the law." But in the opinion of another lawyer, in the case of major crimes or by resuming the death penalty, "the State could be tempted to condition these laws and carry out a purge of the opposition. The subject of the death penalty, whether to abolish it or keep it, should be debated nationally and the citizens should decide by vote." But Cuba isn't Switzerland. Translated by Regina Anavy Source: Cubans Want More Severe Laws for Criminals / Iván García – Translating Cuba - http://ift.tt/2rvRv4T via Blogger http://ift.tt/2szLDWA

After Terrorist Attack, a British City Linked to Jihadis Winces and Asks Why

By Katrin Bennhold and Kimiko de Freytas-Tamura, NY Times, March 26, 2017

BIRMINGHAM, England--Outside the Maasha’Allah internet cafe, Mohammed Hussain raised his voice over the recorded Quranic verses blaring from the abaya shop two doors down. He was furious that Britain’s latest terrorist attacker had amplified his city’s stigma.

“Why do all the jihadis come to Birmingham?” he half-shouted, prompting a passing group of teenage girls in bright-colored head scarves to frown, then giggle.

Exaggeration or not, many people are asking that question. Khalid Masood, 52, the Briton responsible for the deadly attack outside Parliament last week, remains a puzzle to investigators working on how, why and when he was radicalized.

But one aspect is familiar: He had a connection to Birmingham, having moved almost a year ago to this city of 1.1 million, where more than than one in five residents declare Islam as their religion.

As if to further punctuate the connection, the police announced Sunday that they had arrested an unidentified man in Birmingham as part of the investigation of Mr. Masood.

Members of Birmingham’s Muslim communities acknowledged the linkage between their city and Islamist extremism, which many attribute to poverty and drug abuse that make youths vulnerable to jihadist recruiters who operate like gangs. But Muslims in Birmingham also deeply resent what they see as a grossly unfair reputation, countering that most residents are proud and law-abiding.

Many also see their neighborhoods as reassuring refuges from the backlash of anti-Islam bigotry roiling Europe and elsewhere.

The bigotry has often focused on Birmingham. A few years ago, a Fox News terrorism commentator had to apologize for describing Birmingham as a “Muslim-only city” where non-Muslims “don’t go.”

Nonetheless, Birmingham, Britain’s second-biggest city behind London, has produced a disproportionate number of convicted Islamist militants, including some linked to the Sept. 11 attacks, and to last year’s bombings in Brussels.

So many Islamist militants have been born in Birmingham--or have passed through--that the Birmingham Mail newspaper once lamented that the city had the dubious distinction of “Terror Central.”

“The extremist schools of thought seem to have become more embedded in Birmingham than in other parts of the country,” said Nazir Afzal, the former chief crown prosecutor for northwest England, who is from Birmingham.

Mr. Masood, who converted to Islam in his late 30s, was born and raised in an affluent village in southeast England. He spent much of his adulthood in and around London, interrupted by jail time and two yearlong relocations to Saudi Arabia. But Birmingham was his last residence.

Birmingham was the birthplace of Britain’s first suicide bomber, the residence of a financier of the Sept. 11 attacks, and the place where Al Qaeda hatched a plot to blow up a commercial airliner in 2006. When a masked member of the Shabab, the Somali extremist group, celebrated the murder of the soldier Lee Rigby in a 2013 video, he listed Birmingham as the first source of its fighters.

The man who is believed to have recruited the militant known as Jihadi John, the Islamic State executioner with the King’s English accent, was from Birmingham, as was his closest associate. Other prominent militants who have come through the city’s underground networks include Abdelhamid Abaaoud, organizer of the 2015 Paris attacks, and Mohamed Abrini, a Belgian national who helped plot the 2016 Brussels attacks.

In 2014, Birmingham was at the center of a so-called Trojan Horse plot in which, it was alleged, a group of Islamist extremists had sought to infiltrate and take over two dozen state schools. A recent report by the Henry Jackson Society, a politically conservative research organization, found that one in 10 convicted Islamist militants in Britain come from five Birmingham neighborhoods.

David Videcette, a former senior counterterrorism official, said that Birmingham had a better established extremist network than London--a city of seven million--which helped to explain why, in his view, many investigations lead “back to Birmingham.”

Part of Birmingham’s allure to prospective militants is its diverse sprawl of Muslim neighborhoods where they can blend in easily, local activists said.

“It’s a hiding place or a passing place to do what they want to do, and keep a low profile,” said Mohammed Ashfaq, director of Kikit, a community organization that helps young people who are drawn to drugs and extremist ideology.

If a militant were to hide, for example, in Birmingham’s Muslim neighborhood of Sparkbrook, Mr. Ashfaq said, “no one looks at them twice.”

Birmingham is also much poorer than London, providing a more exploitable population for extremists, Mr. Ashfaq said, recalling how his organization dissuaded two youngsters from joining the Islamic State. Both were drug addicts.

“A lot of kids are on drugs, or from single-parent families, or who experience domestic violence,” Mr. Ashfaq said.

In the neighborhoods of Sparkbrook, Washwood Heath and Alum Rock, where many of Birmingham’s Muslims live, mosques dot the cityscape, some offering Shariah councils for family matters. After-school madrassas serve a growing demand for parents who want their children to study the Quran. Even state-funded schools often accommodate religious demands, allowing for lunchtime prayer, shortened days during Ramadan and optional head scarfs.

To many outsiders, the segregation is striking. But Muslim residents, particularly women, speak of their neighborhoods as safe havens from an increasingly hostile society.

“There is safety in numbers,” said Sara Begum, 20, shopping on Coventry Road, a bustling area where eateries advertise halal meat from Kashmir and Syrian cuisine. Ms. Begum, who wears a face-covering niqab, rarely leaves her neighborhood for fear of being insulted or worse. She said a friend’s head scarf had been ripped away by far-right youths near Birmingham’s downtown train station.

“I feel safe around here because a lot of other women dress like I do,” she said. “Other people look at this neighborhood, they see a lot of brown people and a lot of Muslims and they worry about security.”

Within hours of last week’s attack, Muslim women in Birmingham received text messages warning about the far-right English Defense League mobilizing, and urged them to stay inside after dark.

Small Heath Park, where girls in head scarves play soccer and men in Muslim garb huddle to share a picnic, feels like a different world than the city center, a 10-minute drive away.

There are recently arrived Somalis, third-generation Bangladeshis and European converts, like Alicia Fierens, who moved here with her Chinese husband, also a convert, six years ago because Belgium had become too anti-Muslim, she said. “We were having our first child and we didn’t want him to grow up with that,” she said. Birmingham is friendlier, “as long as you stay in the area.”

One problem, said Nicola Benyahia, who runs Families for Life, an independent organization that helps parents detect radicalization in their children, is the mistrust between Muslim communities and the authorities.

“It doesn’t help when the community feels on the defensive,” she said, sitting in a sparsely furnished first-floor office.

Residents were angered and appalled when the government in 2008 secretly placed hundreds of close-circuit television cameras in predominantly Muslim neighborhoods. “It didn’t feel like it was for our security,” Ms. Benyahia said.

But she readily acknowledged that recruiters prey on Muslim youths. Her son Rasheed, then 19, abruptly left for Syria in May 2015 and was killed six months later, which prompted her to start her charity to help other parents avoid the same fate.

Birmingham’s Green Lane Mosque, a red brick building with a clock tower that was formerly a public library, once had a reputation as an “incubator” of militants, Khalid Mahmood, a local lawmaker, said. Now the mosque seeks to counter them.

Last week the mosque quickly condemned the attack in Westminster, saying it would “only strengthen our ongoing work in exposing deviant extremist ideologies, to ensure that we safeguard vulnerable individuals susceptible to radicalization.”

Mr. Videcette, the former counterterrorism official, said extremist networks are run “like the mafia” and include bookshops that sell extremist literature. They also organize tours and talks involving hate preachers, he said, and use some mosques to raise funds.

“It’s a business for them,” he said. “When we say terrorism, people tend to think it’s about religion. It’s not. This is always about money.”

One man in Britain who blurred the boundary between religion and violent extremism is Anjem Choudary, a founder of Al Muhajiroun, which is classified as a terror organization.

Mr. Choudary, who is now in prison after he was convicted last year of encouraging support for the Islamic State, had preached in Birmingham several times in recent years. His entourage would arrive in big vans on Coventry Road, an area associated with conservative Islam, preaching and distributing leaflets.

“They turned religion into a gang-type thing, with thugs around him saying, ‘Come join our gang,’” said Mr. Ashfaq, the director of Kikit. Their message, he said, was “you can be cool, you can become a gangster jihadi.”